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Water - Keep hydrated Carry a Wading Staff Learn a number of fly casts Figure out what the Trout are eating Report Poachers Keep a respectable distance from other Fly Fishers

I have been using 6lb Maxima for dry fly fishing for years. Stuff never breaks and still fits in the eye of the #18 scud hooks I use for little dries. I don't nymph in rivers, but I do bobber fish in lakes a lot and do lots of streamer fishing. I have been using Seaguar Invizix fluorocarbon (10, 12lb) for a number of years and it is fantastic stuff. I am a firm believer is using as heavy a tippet as possible so that you can put tons of pressure on fish to get them in quickly. I don't use a net, but good quality, strong tippet allows to bring fish to hand quickly.

A net. I forgot to take my net while wading last week and I lost two flies because of it. The fish were right at my feet and I was reaching down to grab them to remove the hook, the fish shook their heads and snapped the leader/Tippet with the tight line and rod. I hate to know there are fish out there with body jewelry when I could've done something different to prevent it. I feel it's one of the most overlooked items for a fisherman. Glad to see it included.

Hi, I pinch them in my vise when tying. Don

I know this is a bit 'woo', but remember to slow down a bit, and have fun! Sometimes I find myself wondering in the car ride home 'why didn't I bring my 6W glass' or 'why didn't I bend my rod this way' even though I actually caught, netted and lost fish that outing. Having the extra time to simply get out there is always a plus. Enjoy the water, smile at the creatures and marvel when you get that fly exactly where you wanted it. Flip all cormorants the big middle finger.. I did it this morning, and it felt good! Tight lines, and invest in a stream thermometer! PS- Oh, and this little guy was almost nipping at my heels as I cast in front of his home this morning.

I've been using SA's new "Absolute Clear" and have been impressed by the strength of their 4x tippet. Landed many >20" cuttbows since opening day without breaking off any, until I lost a battle this past week with one that was too big (23+") for my net (17" opening). Probably could have avoided the break-off if I hadn't been too quick to bring a hot fish in close. Absolutely awesome tippet!

OK, here we go... (fortune favours the brave and all that). I believe it is more important to buy the best quality fly line you can afford. The rod and the reel, not so much all things considered.

Just came across this channel on YouTube, two guys who claim to do survival / bush craft videos, and this one video / series takes place on a lake in Banff National Park. The lake is not mentioned but I know which lake it is. Several infractions are committed, including the use of drones, keeping of fish where it's not allowed, use of bait, probably random camping. Feel free to share the videos far and wide in order to shame these people, and if you happen to know these guys don't hesitate to tell them what useless trash they are. Also, Parks Canada is fully aware and are investigating. Update: Both individuals, Greg Ovens and Zachary Fowler, were contestants on season 3 of Alone. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oB8LlILAo40&t=5517s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RZ7sKTlQrY&list=PLjSScLBAtGMgXbxPJ_cm95Md6Cl8vCTPR&index=24

Most Canadian Tire stores still have Maxima Chameleon and also the green line, even found the 15lb test 'clear' if one needed it.

Careful asking for Maxima at certain fly shops or they’ll be confused and tell you to ‘go to Bass Pro for that’. …. Ahhh experience…6 lb max and 10 lb can do 90% of the Bow.. add in 4x and you suddenly get to around 99%

Fast action rods are harder on tippets than a soft tip. The reason I love Bamboo and Fiberglass.

tman, After rubber waders as a kid, hodgman neoprenes as a younger man, I finally owned two pair of Simm's breathables, at the same time. One with zipper and the other just pull up. As I age I am less and less comfortable in deeper/stronger current. I recently bought my first pair of wading pants. No zipper. Patagonia is the brand. I keep the belt loose and keep them up over my beer belly with suspenders (from Mark's). I love them. Something to consider. Good luck.

Here is the best and easiest place to get Macrame. https://pepperell.com/6mm-bonnie-braid-50-yards/ The material works for indicators and flies. The CFF was created using this stuff. The BM is similar. Use it instead of Elk in Elk Hair Caddis or the Mikiluk Sedge. Works are a post for parachutes. I use it in pike style yarn flies. Very versatile material. Don

Look for Macrame yarn, Don turned me on to it years ago. Floats like a cork.

This kind of crap is bad for everyone. "Survival" not the word for this kind of stuff with long wood saws, complete fly fishing kits and so on and so forth. Any Alberta outdoorsperson with an IQ above their shoe size must be able to rank this with all-star wrestling and that kind of pseudo sport entertainment. Complete and utter garbage. And as posted above, the poaching aspect - fish and game - makes me want to hurl. I did not even watch both videos, just skipped through. I do feel bad about contributing to the "viewed" statistics... like it was a good thing. I hope these persons get busted.

Hi Smitty, yes, there were significant upgrades more than 15 years ago. I have lost track of that time. It has had a direct impact on insect life and the fishing quality. I have discussed this with local COs and they are in agreement. It happened so long ago that nobody cares anymore. Currently, the river is still blown out and visibility is poor. Wading is treacherous. As of last week the local pros at Wapiti sports in Canmore were not yet guiding. They wait until the Conservation Officers have taken a helicopter ride with Alpine Helicopters down the river to identify jams and areas of risk. If required, Conservation officers then launch a boat and take a ride downstream with chainsaws and clear areas where watercraft may be threatened. Once that happens (it is imminent), guiding will commence, though water clarity may still be poor. I have fished these waters for years and the catch rate per hour is very low. I keep stats and my personal rate is about 0.6 fish per hour. Small to medium sized browns and brookies and the odd RM whitefish. I have to admit, the Wapiti guys know their craft - they get their clients into larger and greater numbers of fish than I get walking and wading. Something which astounds me is the number of tourists floating the river - the high waters in some ways offer a couple of advantages when drifting at present. The mass flow and velocity are high. Sometime dangerous submerged features are well under water and beyond the shallow draft of most devices. But for my money, I am sticking to foothills creeks and still waters until things become a bit tamer. The maxim that one nevers steps into the same river twice applies in your circumstance. By all means check out your old spots but you may find them not recognizable by now and do exercise caution. I hope you post what you discover, without of course disclosing your secret spots! Still lots of French Creeks around

Not looking for anyone's spots, more asking the general question: How's the Upper Bow been the last few seasons (and obviously this year)? I ask, cause I had heard years ago now, that a mudslide and flooding did quite a number on the bug life. And then Canmore, Exshaw, Seebe started cleaning up the water treatment, and so the river is less fertilized now? True? Might be down there later this month with friends (mostly camping and/or golfing). I am the only fly-fisher. Is it worth my time to re-visit some of the spots I used to fish years ago, poking around Canmore and Seebe and just outside the Banff boundary? Has the fishery "come back"? Just wondering. Smitty

Nice, just teh right amount of bucktail.

Tied a salmon fly called 'Kelsie's Hope'... Hopefully I showed some respect.

Hi Smitty, Hoo boy, depends which 'mudslide' you are speaking of...I can only speak for Canmore and Exshaw 2013. Talk to any guide up there, hey..maybe your spot wasn't touched! The fish, in my tiny opinion, have come back in different areas, but the Upper Bow has changed forever. Not bad Upper Bow places though, Seebe is weird. Maybe I know nothing about you! Haha... it's different these past few yrs. Happy Stampede!

Cheers

Wait a second did I lock the truck?

My old Hardy Ultralite DD 5000 reel died earlier this year. The spool was bent and rubbing on the frame (probably my fault) and the disc drag system stopped working properly (not my fault). This reel was well used and probably had >500 fishing days on it. I returned this reel for warranty repair in the middle of May and they just shipped me a complete replacement reel. Cost to me was US$35. It is sure nice to have a company stand behind their product and provide excellent customer service.

What ever happened to casting to find fish. Everybody wants a short cut. Working for them is satisfying. Humans are too clever for their own good sometimes. This will increase angler caused mortality.